Billy Elliot is Tintin

Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell has landed the lead as Hergé's boy detective in the new Spielberg directed 3D motion capture production: The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn. Joining Bell is Daniel Craig as villain, "Red Rackham", while Steven Moffat's script has been been redrafted by Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish

Full report...
Here

What? WHAT? WHAT???

You mean to say that my photoshoot next to Captain Haddock hasn't got me the part?



*is devastated*

The Co=Ordinator wrote:What? WHAT? WHAT???

You mean to say that my photoshoot next to Captain Haddock hasn't got me the part?



*is devastated*

Er...which one of those two fine gentlemen is Captain Haddock?

You know, my only real regret about the casting of Bell is that it means we lose Thomas Sangster, who was originally signed for the role, but had to withdraw due to, I believe, scheduling problems due to the project being put on hold by the writers strike.

A pity - I feel he was probably the perfect choice to portray Tintin. Still, Bell is an excellent actor, so I remain more than hopeful for the project overall.

Sid Seadevil wrote:You know, my only real regret about the casting of Bell is that it means we lose Thomas Sangster, who was originally signed for the role, but had to withdraw due to, I believe, scheduling problems due to the project being put on hold by the writers strike.

A pity - I feel he was probably the perfect choice to portray Tintin. Still, Bell is an excellent actor, so I remain more than hopeful for the project overall.

Shoot, I'm gonna come across as a right old perv in the cinema now. Jamie Bell as Tin Tin is just taking certain gay fantasies too far, missus. Gosh, I'm getting all hot and bothered thinking about it. Seriously, I think he's a bit old for the part, isn't he? Tommy Sangster would, as you say, have been perfect casting.

Duh. Should've read that properly. It's a 3D motion capture thing. That'll de-sexyfy it. Judging by the quite risible Beowulf they are gonna have to bust their balls to make this work.

*Sorry - it's all getting out of hand. This what happens when I watch a film with lots of men kissing in it. It affects me for days*

Frank wrote:Shoot, I'm gonna come across as a right old perv in the cinema now. Jamie Bell as Tin Tin is just taking certain gay fantasies too far, missus. Gosh, I'm getting all hot and bothered thinking about it. Seriously, I think he's a bit old for the part, isn't he? Tommy Sangster would, as you say, have been perfect casting.

*draws a discreet veil across any implied hint of perviness from certain highly regarded reviewers/bloggers*

*Ahem*

Indeed, Bell would be absolutely physically too old for the role were we looking at a live action film. But I think he'll just get away with it in the 3D motion capture/vocal department.

The thing about Sangster is that he actually physically looks about as close to Tintin as a living, breathing human could. Plus he's bow bang on the age range for the character.

Oh yes, and Andy Sirkis, is playing Tony...er, I mean, Captain Haddock.

Frank wrote:Duh. Should've read that properly. It's a 3D motion capture thing. That'll de-sexyfy it. Judging by the quite risible Beowulf they are gonna have to bust their balls to make this work.

*Sorry - it's all getting out of hand. This what happens when I watch a film with lots of men kissing in it. It affects me for days*

From what I can gather they're aiming at as close to realistic human skin tone for the characters, while retaining the instantly recognisable style of the classic depiction of them in the strips.

I'm presuming they'll be employing a refinement of the processes used on Beowulf, making this the latest step up in the evolutionary process of the techniques began in The Polar Express.

Sid Seadevil wrote:

I'm presuming they'll be employing a refinement of the processes used on Beowulf, making this the latest step up in the evolutionary process of the techniques began in The Polar Express.

Beowulf was an interesting film technically, I thought. The detail of the rendering and all that was fabulous but there is still that gulf between animation, motion capture and live action. Something to do with body language, skin tones, the way light falls on skin and the way the body moves. It isn't quite there yet so I do hope Spielberg gives the technology a kick up the ass.

Frank wrote:Beowulf was an interesting film technically, I thought. The detail of the rendering and all that was fabulous but there is still that gulf between animation, motion capture and live action. Something to do with body language, skin tones, the way light falls on skin and the way the body moves. It isn't quite there yet so I do hope Spielberg gives the technology a kick up the ass.

Oh, I think we'll see a definite leap in the process on display in this new film. Interestingly, this technique does seem to provoke marked cases of the Uncanny Valley syndrome/hypothesis in an awful lot of people.

It'll be interesting to see whether, if the Uncanny Valley phenomena continues in large enough numbers, Hollywood will eventually relegate the attempt to duplicate humans via CGI to the 3-D ghetto, rather that the current attempts to build entire films around them.

Sid Seadevil wrote:Oh yes, and Andy Sirkis, is playing Tony...er, I mean, Captain Haddock.

They're replacing C=O?! What an outrage! Where are the petitions and how soon can I sign?

I think it might be quite a shrewd move actually......

Zoltar wrote:

Sid Seadevil wrote:Oh yes, and Andy Sirkis, is playing Tony...er, I mean, Captain Haddock.

They're replacing C=O?! What an outrage! Where are the petitions and how soon can I sign?

billions of blue blistering barnacles! those bashi-bazouks!

The Save Our Tone's Haddocks! petition starts here!

You have to be codding me.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:You have to be codding me.

Holy Mackerel!

Surely there's a time and a plaice for such discussion?

The Co=Ordinator wrote:Surely there's a time and a plaice for such discussion?

I fear this discussion is in imminent danger of jumping the Shark.

You're floundering my dear Eocene.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:You're floundering my dear Eocene.

I will admit to being just a tad haked off my dear C=O. Oh and please, spare me your Cod philosophy.

Get off that perch Mr. Q, you're skating on thin ice.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:Get off that perch Mr. Q, you're skating on thin ice.

Oh do stop carping Mr. C=O, you're dacing with danger.

Huh. I am a rock Mr. Q - no more red herrings now, please.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:Huh. I am a rock Mr. Q - no more red herrings now, please.

I hope Frank doesn't see this conversation, Eel be floundering with range.

Thta's just a red herring. You're solely responsible for Frank's mood.